Chevrolet Monza

Video: Roadkill Supercharges Chevy Monza With 5 Leafblowers

The Roadkill dynamic duo of Mike Finnegan and David Freiburger are at it again, this time testing the hillbilly hot-rodding theory of supercharging an engine with leaf blowers. Although the definitive internet authority, YouTube, claims leafblower supercharging is a discredited method, Finnegan and Freiburger, along with Hot Rod Drag Week alumnus Jeff Lutz, were able to make a tad more power with the huffing Husqvarnas, but a substantial amount more torque at lower RPMs strapped to a late '70s Chevrolet Monza with a 305 small-block V-8 under the hood.

However, some fine-tuning of the valvetrain, and the installation of a 650 CFM double-pumper carb lying around the shop yielded the biggest power gain, with the Monza's 305 going from 144 to 193 hp. With the leafblowers not creating the level of power they expected, some reverse-engineering revealed that the blowers going full-blast were causing some reversion in one of the blowers, essentially creating a boost leak. With an upstream ball-valve installed, the engine was able to take full advantage of the airflow when it had a greater appetite for air.With the tubing and bypass valve installed, and with Lutz's shop swapping out the tired 305 for a beefier 350, the two were off to the Ohio Mile to see how fast the sleek 70s icon would run. All-out, the Monza ran an impressive 139.84 with Lutz driving and leafblowers at full blast. Not bad for a total of $4600 invested, $3000 in the Monza, and $1600 in leafblowers.Check out Roadkill every fourth Friday on the Motor Trend Channel!